Looking at the open door

Tim ventured out to get more tonic water (and other stuff, but that was what he’d run out of) from the local supermarket yesterday but otherwise, we haven’t been anywhere yet. As Weeza put it yesterday, it’s like the prison doors have been unlocked, but nobody’s leaving! I know some people have rushed out to visit the seaside, friends and so on, but none of us has, yet. Though I am going to meet Weeza tomorrow (I had to ask, because no one wants to take risks with us), which I’m looking forward to very much. It’s very hard, not to have seen any of the family for such a long time. Particularly noticeable because of not visiting Ro and co with the new baby, who has changed out of all recognition in the last two and a half months. From having been a little thing, just under six pounds in weight (she was nearly four weeks early and Dora is tiny herself, shorter and slighter than I am), she is now robust, with chins and a fat tum!

Babies come in fat or thin and it doesn’t necessarily mean anything for their childhood size. My three were all fat babies and so were Dilly’s, but Weeza’s were thin and so was Rufus. All three of my children and all seven grandchildren were breast fed, so not overfed formula, and they all grew up slim. I’ve got a lovely picture of Squiffany with her chubby ankles falling over her shoes, when she was about fifteen months old, but she’s a slender teenager now and just naturally grew out of her baby chubbiness.

I so miss baby chubbiness.

4 comments on “Looking at the open door

  1. Blue Witch

    I wonder how long it will be before familes are officially allowed to visit each other’s homes again? Or indeed, feel that they can without anyone being at risk?

    I have heard/read of lots of people who have been visiting relatives ‘on the sly’, and without good reason, some all the way through the lockdown.

    I do feel sad for people (like you) with new children/grandchildren who have missed out on those so-important first few weeks of family love and support, in person. Does virtual/video communication make things easier or harder?

    Enjoy meeting up with Weeza again!

    Reply
  2. Z Post author

    I really feel that the men responsible for setting the rules have never looked after children nor their own parents and, if they have children, leave all practical matters to their wives. Anyone with any nous at all would have anticipated that there would be indignant bemusement at the statement that you can have your cleaners come into the house but that your own family cannot even meet in the garden, however big it is. Or that you can only meet one person at a time, but the whole family can come and go, to be with the grandparent individually.
    I have had a lovely day with warm welcomes from everyone. I did need to use Weeza’s lavatory before I left because I’d been out of the house for several hours. Another thing that the stupid government didn’t think about when they said elderly parents could only meet their family in a park, where all the toilets are closed.
    The online chats have been lovely, at least we’re all getting together as much as possible. We do sometimes talk about how awful it all is, but only for mutual comfort and we are cheerful and affectionate with each other. There is, at present, almost no COVID-19 in the Norwich area, though there are pockets elsewhere in Norfolk.

    Reply
  3. Blue Witch

    Yes. The education forums are full of huge (and very real) concern about the long-term affect of these policies on children. All children, not just those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

    Reply
    1. Z Post author

      It depends so much, of course, on the child and its circumstances. Weeza says that Zerlina will be happy to get back to school and her friends, but Gus is loving home life with his parents so much that she feels the transition back will be hard for him.

      Reply

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